I know – it’s my own fault. I have done this before, but the forecast was so consistently clear and we really wanted to do it. “Let’s do that two day hike over the Glaspass and the Tomülpass, especially now that Ali’s here.”
“30% chance of light rain” from the various weather forecasts was all the excuse that we needed to book the hotel at Safien Platz, and book the bus, train and another bus to our starting point on day 1. Booking buses and trains online in Switzerland, means non-refundable – yes – you don’t get your money back, even if there is an earthquake.
Saturday morning started its “30% chance of light rain” at 7 o’clock with a 100% thunderstorm, directly overhead and 7 degrees on the balcony. This state of affairs continued for 5 hours and when our apartment eventually emerged from the clouds, the mountains revealed snow down to 1,400 metres. For those of you that don’t do metres and snowlines, take it from me, this is pretty low.
Needless to say, the non-refundable tickets were not used.
We are not easily disheartened. New plans were forged. A long awaited blog was written and published, in between claps of thunder. Learned articles from some of my friends from New College were read and various other overdue and useful tasks performed, as the August Mountains received the snow. (Where was the fresh snow in February and March, when we needed it?)
At 3.00 pm, we set out (now in the sunshine) to Safien Platz (our intended overnight stop) via two buses (what else).
Now Grumpy’s blogs are not famous for their happy endings. Actually, they are not famous at all. So I am sorry to disappoint you, when I say that our evening in Safien Platz and next day’s hike over the Tömül Pass had an ending that Danielle Steel would be proud of.
You too can enjoy some of the sights on this web link to a show of some of the photographs, as our intrepid explorer boldly went where tens of thousands have been before.
When you get to the site, click on the top left hand corner for a slide show – where it says “Slide Show” in fact.
There was some internal discussion on the favourite photograph. Most votes go to the two mad cyclists at the top, and the cow coming out of the bushes.
Of course, some statistics are necessary.
Height of the Tömül Pass – 2,400 metres
Vertical Climb to the Tömül Pass from our Starting Points – 750 metresTime taken – 6 hours
Time predicted by yours truly – 6 hours
Time predicted per the signs – 5 hours
Number of coffee pauses – None (can you believe it!!)
Number of cyclists met on the way – 4
Number of stiff legs the next day - 6
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